Workers build a new house in Bosnia Herzegovina for the Petrovic family, Zelimirka, Goran, and their two young children. Photo by CRS staff

Arna Pijalovic and Gordana Radic help run CRS’ home-rebuilding projects in Bosnia Herzegovina. There, thousands of people still lack housing because of the war in the 1990s. Arna writes from Sarajevo about a Christmas present one Bosnian family can expect soon.

The Petrović family—Želimirka, Goran, and their two young children—has a very low income, around 60 KM ($40) a month. They work hard farming their land, despite health problems. They are really kind, honest, good people.

Even before the global financial crisis, they didn’t have much to spend. Now things will be harder—I don’t know how they will get wood for fuel. But the couple took part in CRS workshops, where they learned how to write a small-business plan for their vegetable farming. They hope that by following the plan next year, they will make a better income. CRS also gave them a cow to help with milk for their children.

Their old house is not safe for living—the roof is damaged and the walls are very old. It’s also not easy to keep the house warm. The five of them, including Goran’s mother, are all in one small room.

As part of our projects to rebuild houses after the war, CRS engineers have almost finished building them a new home. It should be ready around Christmas and at the beginning of New Year 2009 they will move in. The bigger boy is constantly around the workers that are building the house, so happy to see them. His mother Želimirka says that he keeps repeating, “We are going to have new house!”
The war marked them for ever, but I’m so glad this nice young family will finally have a normal place to live. I believe a dignified life is coming for them.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of more than 100 countries whose people you help when you partner with CRS in reaching the world’s poorest. The global financial crisis has, of course, hurt everyone. It has made helping more difficult even as it increases the desperation of needy people. If you are at all inclined and able to help, know that what may seem an insignificant amount to you is nothing less than lifesaving. Even a little bit can make a big difference.

Lane Bunkers, CRS’ country representative for Ethiopia, shares the impact of the global economic crisis on the destitute and dying.

CRS provides food to the 17 centers run by the Missionaries of Charity in Ethiopia. This food support enables the Sisters to feed 40,000 of Ethiopia’s neediest each year. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS

In the five months that my family and I have made our home in Ethiopia, I have visited the Missionaries of Charity’s Home for the Destitute and Dying in the capital of Addis Ababa on numerous occasions. Each time I visit, I experience the same two feelings.

The first feeling is joy, which comes over me as soon as I am greeted by Sister Janeke and Sister Amrit. With their infectious smiles and constant good nature, you can’t help but feel a sense of contented calm in their presence. After a volley of inquiries about each other’s health and families, the sisters often call over Sister Catalina, who is from Romania. I lived there from 1997 to 1999, so I greet her in my rusty Romanian, and we share a laugh in her native language. Even though I am very aware that people are dying all around the Sisters, I cherish this moment of levity and celebration before we move further into the center. 
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